Cable tensioning apparatus



Oct. 24, 1961 R. 1.. JOHNSON ETAL 3,005,621

CABLE TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1960 Illlllllll 53 55 F /6. 2 p I I. I 25A 5? 53 35 5 33 47 N i INVENTORS, RICHARD L. JOHNSON BY MORTON F. ROSEMAN.

L E a m ATTORNEY n gr United States Patent 3,005,621 CABLE TENSIONENG APPARATUS Richard L. Johnson, Red Bank, and Morton F. Roseman, Long Branch, N.J., assignors t the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Jan. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 672 1 Claim. (Cl. 254-17537) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to a semi-automatic cable tensioning device. Specifically, the device forming the subject of this invention has particular application in tensioning the guy wires or cables that are commonly used in supporting an erectable structure such as a telescopic mast for an antenna, a sectional elevated platform or any application where guy wires are utilized. In the specific herein described embodiment of the invention, the tensioning device will be described in its relation to the erection of a telescopic mast, although it is to be understood that the invention is not to be so limited.

At the present time, in the erection of a telescopic mast utilizing supporting guy wires, it is necessary that some control must be exercised during the payout of the guy wire. By the same token, similar precautions must be taken during the reeling-in of the wire at the time that the mast is to be lowered. For accomplishing such ends or means, it is necessary that an operator be utilized to control each guy wire until the mast is extended to its desired height. Such controls made necessary the use of added manpower.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a semi-automatic wire and cable tensioner to be used in either the paying-out or reeling-in of such cable.

An important feature of the invention resides in the self-contained power means for reeling-in wire thus avoiding the need for any external source of power.

Another feature is the provision of means for preventing the back lashing of the guy wire during the reelingin operation. Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for locking the device to secure the guy lines and thereby preventing any possibility of failure of the guy wires.

The above and other advantages of the device will be apparent from the following detailed description of the device to be read in view of the accompanying sheet of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, partly in section, showing one embodiment of the wire tensioning device; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view in partial cross section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1, the tensioning device includes a housing 11 of a configuration that is substantially U shaped in cross section and having a series of shafts extending between the side walls thereof. Afiixed to one of the shafts and rotatable therewith is a reel 13 which serves as a carrier for the wire or cable 14 that is used as the guy support. The design and size of the reel 13 will be dependent upon the length and thickness of the rope and as to the nature of the guy rope, that is whether made of wire, cord, nylon or any appropriate material. Carried by a shaft 15 is a flat spiral spring 17 wherein the inner wind of said spring is secured to the shaft 15 while the end of the last or outer wind is secured to and held by a stud 19 which in turn is aflixed to a side wall of the housing 11. Intermediate the reel 13 and the spring 17 are a plurality of gears linked in series to provide a gear train generally 3,005,621 Patented Oct. 24, 1961 designated as 21. Through the intermediate action of the gear train 21 it will be apparent that revolution of the reel, while paying out guy wire when a mast is to be erected, will cause a tightening or winding up of the spring 17. After being so wound up the inherent power in such spring can be utilized to work the reel 13 in the opposite direction to reel in the guy cable when a mast is lowered as hereinafter more fully described. While in the specific embodiment there has been shown a flat spiral spring as a means of storing energy, it will be obvious that other forms of spring-like devices can be used in lieu thereof. For example, spring means such as a constant tension spring may also be used.

Also contained in the housing 11 is a spool-like capstan 23, provided with an externally threaded flange-like extension as shown at 24, that is spaced from and in linear alignment with the reel 13. The capstan 23 is carried by a shaft 25 and capable of rotating thereon when coupled to the shaft. However, the capstan is not directly secured or affixed to the shaft.

In abutment with the capstan 23 is a clutch plate 27 held by a bearing 29 which in turn is secured to the shaft 25 by a pin 31. For effecting engagement between the clutch plate 27 and the capstan 23, a pin 33, confined in and extending from the plate, is provided which is engageable in an opening 35 in the capstan 23. A tension spring 37 is provided for normally urging the plate 27 into engagement with the capstan. The spring 37 lies between the plate 27 and one of the side walls 39 of the housing 11. The side wall 39 serves as a support or mounting means for a partition 41 rigidly held to the wall 39 by bolts as shown. Secured to the partition41, and intermediate the partition and the capstan 23 is a sleeve bearing 43. The bearing 43 is firmly held in position by a wedging action in its position in the partition 41. Threadably engaged on the threads 24 of the flangelike extension of capstan 23 is a lock nut 47 that is positioned intermediate the partition 41 and the side wall 39. The lock nut 47 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed peripheral slots 49 having extending therethrough discrete tightening screws 51 which when urged inwardly force a slight contraction of the lock nut and force the thread of the nut 47 into tighter engagement with the threads 24 of the capstan 23. For effecting rotational movement of the lock nut 47 a device such as a spanner wrench can be used. 'For access to the screws 51, the side wall 39 is provided with a pair of openings 53 as shown. From the description above it is apparent that when the nut 47 is rotated, axial'movement of the capstan 23 will beefiected. By such means the capstan 23 can be forced into frictional abutment and engagement with the bearing 43 to such degree that the capstan will no longer be able to rotate and thus be securely locked. By rotating the lock nut in the opposite direction the capstan can be freed from such engagement.

Secured'to the other end of the shaft 25 is a clutch plate 55 provided with a lug 57 on its face. Confined in and mounted in the side wall 59 is a shaft 25A that is in alignment with the shaft 25. A clutch plate 61 having an opening to receive lug 57 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 25A and acts in concert with clutch plate 55, when lug 57 and opening of plate 61 are in engagement, to effect rotation of shaft 25A.

Affixed to the outer surface of the side wall 59 is a pawl and ratchet assembly including a ratchet wheel 63 that is secured to and rotatable with shaft 25A; a spring loaded pawl arm 65 that works to prevent backward motion of the ratchet wheel and shaft 25A and a pivotable lock 67 provided with a cam surface that is in operable engagement with the cam surface end of arm 65 to effect movement of said arm. The lock 67 is utilized 3 to effect engagement or disengagement of the ratchet assembly as hereinafter described.

The cable tensioning device of the kind set forth and described above operates in the following manner. The reel 13 is supplied with the desired type of cable, and then the free end of the cable 14, to be used as a guy support, is secured to the mast that is to be raised. At this time the lock nut is disengaged, that is, in such position that capstan 23 is not in frictional abutrttenfwith the bearing 43 so that the capstan can rotate freely. The shaft '25 is shifted to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby disengaging clutch plates 55 and 61. The separation of the plates 55 and 61 will permit the cable 14 to be slipped therethrough. The cable 14 is then looped,

over and about the capstan 23. The cable is preferably looped several turns over the capstan to reduce or minimize the tension in the cable lying between the capstan 23 and the reel 13. The shaft 25 is then urged inwardly thereby reengaging the clutch plates 55 and 61. At this time the pawl and ratchet assembly is put in its inoperative position by forcing the lock 67 downwardly. By this action the cam surface of the lock will ride along and urge the pawl arm 65 upwardly and out of engagement from the ratchet wheel 63.

. With the lock nut 47 disengaged, as previously pointed out, the capstan can rotate freely and the raising of the mast is initiated. As the mast is being raised, cable is being payed out from the reel 13 in clock-wise direction, the gear train 21 will be set into operation and spring 17 will be wound and storing energy therein.

When the mast is fully erected, the pawl and ratchet assembly is placed in operative position by rotating the lock 67 to allow the arm 65 to become engaged in the ratchet wheel 63. The shaft 25 is then rotated in a direction opposite to that of payout, thereby tensioning the cable between the capstan and its secured position on the mast. For rotating the shaft, a crank handle such as shown in the drawing may be utilized. When the desired tension is achieved the lock nut 47 is rotated thereby urging the capstan 23 into frictional engagement with the bearing 43 thereby preventing any further rotational movement of the capstan. As an added locking step, the screws 51 are urged inwardly to effect a tighter gripping action of the threads of the lock nut within the screw threads of the flange portion 24.

In its reverse operational procedure, that is, when the mast is lowered the lock nut is loosened and disengaged. Such step will allow the capstan to rotate and the slack in the cable is reeled in and onto the reel 13 by the unwinding of the spring '17. During such step, tautness in the cable will be maintained.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed A support and tensioning device for a guy wire that extends between said device and an erective structure comprising a housing, a guy wire reel rotatable in either direction on a shaft in said housing, spring means in said housing for reeling in said guy wire onto said reel, means intermediate said reel and said spring for energizing said spring when guy wire is being payed out from said reel, means for tensioning said guy wire including a capstan rotatable with the shaft in said housing and rotatable in a first forward direction when guy wire is being payed out from said device and rotatable in a second reverse direction when said wire is being reeled in, said capstan being spaced from and in linear alignment with said reel and supporting at least one wind of said wire, said capstan having an externally threaded perpendicularly disposed flange, means for locking said capstan against rotation comprising an internally threaded lock nut engageable on said flange and-a bearing plate intermediate said lock nut and said capstan whereby as said lock nut is rotated in one direction the capstan will be urged into frictional locking arrangement with said bearing plate, and means for allowing said capstan to rotate in one direction only when said guy wire is being reeled in to tension said wire intermediate the capstan and its secured position on said structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 337,758 Fowler Mar. 9, 1886 344,629 Corcoran June 29, 1886 972,238 Poorman Oct. 11, 1910 1,466,374 Hart Aug. 28, 1923 1,584,198 Stevens May 11, 1926 1,661,275 Stensland Mar. 6, 1928 2,059,765 Adams Nov. 3, 1936 2,203,453 Bond June 4, 1940 2,555,501 Morgan June 5, 1951 2,647,703 Hayes Aug. 4, 1953 

